Chapter 4

"I guess Caleb is handsome, has a six-pack, has a great job that makes a lot of money, cares about me, is willing to spend money on me…" Mackenzie started counting on her fingers.

"He has a really bad temper sometimes, though. He even got physical with me last time. Is that a sign he might become abusive, Adeline?" Mackenzie asked, looking troubled.

I chuckled dryly and said, "You know what they say—love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and a little fighting keeps things interesting! It's not just boyfriend and girlfriend; even old married couples go at it all the time!"

That bit of manipulative persuasion likely left Mackenzie even more convinced she had struck gold with Caleb.

I kept stirring the steaming coffee in the cup, and when I looked up, I found Mackenzie staring at me with her eyes wide open, her face just inches from mine.

"I need you to look me in the eyes, Adeline!" Mackenzie fixed her gaze on me without blinking. She then asked seriously, "Are you really Adeline Calcraft?"

I remained composed on the surface even though I was taken aback by the sudden question. I inwardly felt a pang of guilt, though, as if every effort I'd made to hide the truth had just been seen through.

"You see, I just can't shake the feeling something's off. You haven't been possessed by some evil spirit, have you?" Mackenzie narrowed her eyes slightly, putting on a dramatic, thoughtful look.

"You seriously scared the hell out of me!" I finally realized she was just messing with me. I quickly pushed her head away and gave her an annoyed look.

Mackenzie broke into a cheerful laugh.

I truly disliked her, but I had genuinely loved her once as a friend, too. In my past life, I would have wept with joy for her well-being before she even had the chance.

In the toughest periods of my life, she was always there for me. I quit my job because I was being harassed at my workplace. I couldn't pull myself out of that depressive state for a long time, moping around all day and hiding from the world.

Mackenzie kept dropping by my place to check on me, bringing me good food and taking me out to travel and sightsee.

I gradually began to feel less weighed down and finally started to move past the negative emotions.

We treated each other's parents like our own. We shared every tiny, insignificant thing that happened in our lives.

I couldn't just let her keep mistaking lies for love, but I knew very well that I couldn't possibly pull her out of it. I would only end up hurting myself in the process—just like in my past life. I eventually figured it was better to back off and let her live out the life she chose for herself.

Thus, without my intervention this time, Mackenzie kept spiraling further out of reach. It wasn't long before she got pregnant. She was so excited about giving Caleb a surprise, already imagining him proposing to her. "Caleb will probably learn to rein in his temper once he becomes a father."

Unfortunately, what came wasn't news of a baby being born, but a phone call from the hospital.

I happened to catch two nurses venting when I arrived at the hospital.

"That woman's husband is so cold-hearted! He didn't seem to care that they'd lost the baby. He even left without paying the medical bill. What a jerk!"

Having settled the medical bill, I made my way to Mackenzie's hospital ward. She looked pale and sallow as she lay there in silence, as if she'd aged a decade overnight. She slowly turned her head toward me when I arrived, the pillow under her head soaked with tears. She then said hoarsely, "Please don't tell my mother, Adeline."

"What on earth happened, Mackenzie?"

Mackenzie replied weakly, "Caleb told me he wasn't ready to be a father. He wanted me to get an abortion, and when I wouldn't go, he tried to drag me there by force… and I ended up falling…"

Mackenzie closed her eyes tightly, tears streaming down her face. "It's all his fault! I actually lost my baby because of him! I loved him so much, so how could he do this to me?"

Mackenzie was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

I would've been livid if this had happened in my past life. I might have even gone straight to Caleb and given him a piece of my mind. I had no intention of doing that in this life, though.